User Interview: beattle3

Q&A with noted Hoops Dynasty user beattle3

As the racing season winds down with its chase for the cup, WISCAR action shifts into a new gear with the upcoming fourth season of Clutch Racing Dynasty, a game that puts you, the user, in complete control of drivers, cars, crews and sponsors while you manage your garage and your finances as you compete against other users in your region, level and world. One such user who has conquered WisCar Elite and National and who hopes to soon turning left on the Bush National circuit is beattle34.

WIS

Thanks for taking the time out to meet with us.

WIS

Who is beattle34?

beattle34

I consider myself just a regular user. Beattle comes from my nickname in college which comes naturally from my name Bill Bailey. My dad was always called that and I knew I would be too. Besides Beattle and beattle34, I use the alias bubbers. That was my brother's nickname before he passed away a year and a half ago. Otherwise, I am a father of 3, married 18 years. I run the Over the Rhine Community Center in downtown Cincinnati. I also am a teacher, civil servant, non-violent crisis interventionist and a volunteer for the Cincinnati Bengals, coordinating their halftime shows and a field coordinator for the Greater Loveland Baseball Softball Organization.

WIS

How did you find out about WhatIfSports.com?

beattle34

A friend, actually my wife's cousin, mentioned it to me pre-dynasty games. I never really spent much time on the site at first. I got some free time and joined some spring leagues and then the MLB simleague. Soon enough, I was scoping out the rest of the site and found Hoops Dynasty and the addiction began.

WIS

What dynasty and/or SimLeague games have you played?

beattle34

I only played that one season of MLB simleauges, but I've had up to 7 or 8 HD seasons running at one time - now I'm back to a more manageable 3 or 4. Moving up through HD I would piggyback off my old teams with different usernames. I also have Arizona in Gridiron Dynasty's Bryant world and have been in three seasons of Clutch Racing Dynasty as Kumquat International.

WIS

Which do you prefer?

beattle34

Right now, I would say GD because of my success, though I feel as though I have piggybacked off some great coaches like Gary65, kmwa and especially tommy_cian.

WIS

Besides simulation sports websites, what are some of your other interests and hobbies?

beattle34

Reliving my youth through my children. In high school I ran track my senior year. Now, my son is a sophomore high school varsity cross-country runner. I have a daughter running number two on her middle school cross-country team. She's also a three-time defending national tumbling and trampoline champion. Of course, she gets that from her mother who was a six-time world tumbling and trampoline champion. Then my youngest daughter was a medallist (3rd) at last season's national meet.

WIS

Why do you think it is that sports are so big in our culture?

beattle34

I see it everyday. It's people's competitive nature. Whether it be with video games, pool, air hockey, etc. Plus, I think there is some glamour in it. Right now in Cincinnati with the Bengals, everyone sees what a focus on winning can do for a community. We lived without a winner for so long.

WIS

Did you play any sports as a kid?

beattle34

I only ran track for one season in high school. After I got cut from the baseball team my freshman season, I should have gone out for track then, but I was too determined to make the baseball team the next year. I did, but barely played. By my junior year, I was working and never really had fun with sports until I decided to run track my senior year. I ran the one and two mile - because I didn't get tired when I ran. Had I done it longer, I think I could have been a contender!

WIS

What players did you admire most growing up?

beattle34

I always loved the way the Richie Hebner would come to the plate and pull his jersey up off his shoulder as he got in the box. I'd emulate that all the time. And the way that Willie Stargell could swing the bat. Then of course there was Roberto Clemente for what he did on and off the field. And the immaculate reception by Franco Harris, Terry Bradshaw and Frenchy Fuqua. That happened when I was 10 years old, living with my dad and just getting into sports. That was Pittsburgh's era with the Steel Curtain defense, Jack Ham and Jack Lambert, Mean Joe Green. Also, I have a lot of respect for minor league baseball players too. I worked with the Pirates as I spent a year in the Gulf Coast League in Bradenton and you could see the determination in a lot of them, namely John Smiley & Jose "Chico" Lind.

WIS

Who are your favorite players in today's games?

beattle34

I don't idolize anyone like I did when I was growing up. Even when I was in college working as an athletic trainer at Ohio State, I used to love the idea of what Archie Griffin meant to OSU football, what Clark Kellogg did for OSU basketball, what the Pooley brothers did for OSU hockey, but it wasn't the same as when I was a kid. I guess, since I've seen all types of athletes at every level of sports, I'd say that I admire the guys who act like they have been there before! From the Bengals, guys like Willie Anderson & Carson Palmer although I enjoy some of Chad Johnson's antics too. Still, nothing is like when you were younger. I still remember going to the Steelers' training camp in Latrobe hanging out at 2-a-days and taking pictures of the players. For some reason I can't forget being chased by Roy Gerela, the ugliest man in the NFL at that time (probably ever), scarred for life I suppose.

WIS

What is the top sports related thing you want to do in life that you have not yet done?

beattle34

I just want to sit back and cheer on my kids as they advance through their careers. And I guess, though I don't think it's a sport, I'll be happy to win at poker a night or two.

WIS

Do you draw on the philosophies of any past or present coaches in HD or GD?

beattle34

I respect the Big Ten's philosophy in both sports. I like smashmouth football and bangin' basketball. Big & strong in the trenches & down low! I love Woddy Hayes, but I'd prefer seven or eight yards and a cloud of dust to three.

WIS

What is your favorite aspect of our website?

beattle34

Always being able to do something. I can scout, recruit, gameplan, buy a new team, read the forums; it is never boring.

WIS

Least favorite?

beattle34

In HD, it does not seem like fatigue is equivalent with performance. I know HD has been around the longest of the dynasty games but there still seems to be some extreme random outcomes that arise in the game that aren't realistic. Players should not be able to shoot 60% from the field when they are extremely fatigued (red bar) in the play-by-play. Any A rated FT shooter should be able to shoot at least 80% when they are fresh or mildly fatigued (green & blue bars), but for some reason, this doesn't happen? Too much of the game seems to hinge on random occurrences and not actual skill development or game settings. With GD, I've had a lot of success and concur that it is the smoothest running of the dynasty games so no complaints here! With CRD, there have been some bumps in the road (27 penalties in a 10 lap span), but it is progressing well and I can't wait to get to the next season where I should be running in the National Bush series!

WIS

You have also played in more than 2000 simmed Hoops Dynasty games, what is the best advice you can give to users in HD?

beattle34

Don't expect to be wildly successful immediately. There is a learning curve, and it is different for everyone. Read the forums for help. Also, it is important to develop a healthy addiction. When I was running eight teams at once, that was a little much. Yet, three to four teams is good for me. Hootiehoots, a user who is a good friend of mine, has a healthy addiction, he has one HD team and one GD team and no interest of expanding.

WIS

You have also been one of the best users in our new Clutch Racing Dynasty game (now in its 3rd season). How would you characterize the game in its current state? How far has it come? Where does it have to go?

beattle34

It's coming along nicely. Essentially, the first year was a beta test but every update makes the game better and better. It will continue to evolve and I look forward to every next season.

WIS

What type of car do you use and why?

beattle34

I chose Chevy early on and haven't had any reason to change it. It's the most balanced in its design so I recommend that for all new users.

WIS

What are your general guidelines to searching for and signing Drivers?

beattle34

Again I looked for balance among drivers. No skill too developed or under-developed.

WIS

What are your general guidelines to searching for and signing Crew?

beattle34

With my crew chief, I lucked out and guessed right that the engine development and maintenance skill is most important. Still it's important to find balance and look for ratings in all categories that are close to or above average.

WIS

What are your general guidelines to searching for and signing Sponsors?

beattle34

I never assume at the beginning of a season that I will finish consistently in the top 5. Even though I've been there (beattle34 is inline to win his third straight Cup championship), I always look for double-digit objectives in my sponsors because I want to collect my bonus pay 80-90% of the races. Of course, that's not how I make the BIG money, but this strategy usually pays off.

WIS

How do you approach the adjustable race settings?

beattle34

I ran practice run after practice run to test all the advance settings and found that up until recently, 'All Speed' and 'Heavy Speed' settings are the way to go. Keep tinkering with the advanced settings, eventually, you'll find something that works. 'All Speed' can be risky for parts so I only use it when I can get the most money out of a race. At this point, I have 10 engines, eight bodies and eight frames that are all about the same caliber. I keep them on a steady rotation and overhaul only when necessary.

WIS

How have you gone about managing your money with upgrades and winnings?

beattle34

I built a few engines, but have mostly saved to try and get to $350,000 in winnings so that I can move up from National to the Bush series. I've got all the driver and crew chief upgrades, but I have not upgraded my engine, frame or body in an effort to save money for the promotion to Bush. Bronco2Rings, one of the best users in GD and CRD deserves much of the credit for all his help with the advanced settings.

WIS

What is the biggest thing that you think separates you from other CRD users?

beattle34

I schedule my part usage by purses for the entire season. I also think that I have the best maintained engines because of my crew chief, but that is just my opinion.

WIS

What can you tell our users who may be unfamiliar with the game about the merits of CRD?

beattle34

Those who may have used CRD for the first season may be gone, but they should come back. Jaywat and his crew are making many improvements to the sim and the game keeps getting better each season. The improvements have brought some level of enjoyment to me as well as many other users.

WIS

Do you spend much time in the forums? Why or why not?

beattle34

I read more than I reply. The forums are informative and often humorous. There is some great info in there. I'll chime in, but only every once in a while when someone is way off base or totally cheating the system, like when dawg99 transferred into his third team in one conference of GD. Couldn't believe it; and still can't.

WIS

Who are the users you respect and/or enjoy the most?

beattle34

Elbruskinm has single-handedly made the Bryant world in GD as entertaining as it gets. He's probably the reason that I, and many others, love GD so much. Tommy_Cian is a good user and I respect his style of developing a team. I have piggybacked off of his team development three times. The guy is never negative. Plumpy from HD is always entertaining. I respect JWatkins513 (site staff - CRD developer). He is always receptive and attentive to my CRD questions. Honestly, the guy must live in the forums. He responds to every post he can and turns suggestions around quickly. Bronco2rings has been very helpful in CRD and is a very good GD coach. Hootiehoots has had some early success in HD & GD and I'm still trying to get him to get a CRD team!

WIS

If you were in one of our games, what sport would you play, at what position and what would you be rated?

beattle34

I'd probably be the 6th man (Defensive specialist at SG) on a DIII HD team or maybe the 6th lineman/2nd TE in a DIII GD school. I would have average overall ability, nothing outstanding nothing to hurt the team, with high work ethic, stamina & durability and no dilemmas!!!